Tag Archive for Portland International Raceway

Over the last couple of weeks in Portland, there was a media introduction of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The gist of the story – 707 horse power, retro styled muscle car with loads of useable modern technology.

“Devil and a Hellcat” (get it?) sounds like a movie about WWII in the Pacific… The Grumman Hellcat (how the Hellcat name was made famous) was used to combat Japanese Zero’s. This isn’t about flimsy imports, this is an intramural war – Dodge vs. Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge. Combatants from the Land of the Rising Sun have long since been dispatched… This is about pure brute force and hitting a nail with the biggest hammer – American style!!! Hellcat is that SRT/Dodge hammer.

Grumman Hellcats on the Prowl

My job was mostly to make sure that no over-exuberant journalist crashed any of the Hellcats (Dodge and SRT afforded them personal discretion with the rest of the cars), and to provide chauffeur service to those that preferred the experience from the right seat.

2) Social Media is a now a bigger part of doing business than you think (even if you already think it’s really, really big).

To the second point, Wednesday was a day devoted to new media. There were people there that you would only associate with cars via their blogs, instagram and twitter accounts – and some, not even then.

The one that struck me in particular, was a woman named Jennifer Holly @worldwarjenn. After a brief inquiry, she insists that she is not particularly popular on twitter, and that she will be reviving her website soon – my assessment is that she’s kind of awesome, in that sweet, smart, engaging, smiley, 20 something and loving life kind of way. That’s all, and somebody at Dodge believes that, that carries weight – who am I to judge..? Could it be that Dodge understands that cars are for everybody and that they’re FUN!?!?

Patrolling the Pacific with @worldwarjenn in a Hellcat

When it comes right down to it, the best Muscle Car in the World is the one living in your own garage. What I confirmed over the past two weeks, is that the Dodge and SRT guys are a clever bunch and great fun to be around – they love their new car. And, they have done a great service to us by extending a great American tradition – well done, boys and girls!!!

Saturday in Dufur the cars will be on display at Dufur City Park, beginning at 9:00am. Dufur City Park is scheduled to be the location for all services. That means that as the car finish stages, there will be time for them to work on the cars. That will be happening at a central, easy to find location. This is an excellent spectating opportunity. Kids love this stuff!

Sunday the cars will be running stages near Hood River, and servicing down in the Port Area – Again, beginning at 9:00am.

Who to look for?

I’ll be rooting for McDowell and Henderson (notice how I put the co-driver’s name first…?) – Hood River boys and hell-a-fast!!! Number 541, Subaru WRX (photo above). Great insights on their Facebook page.

Carl Decker is a bicycle racer from Bend who also spends some time in Hood River. He’s stupid-quick on a bike – expect that to carry over. Like Henderson, if you think race driver’s ain’t athletes… you ain’t thinkin’ very hard. Number 693, and it’s probably still a Subaru.

Anybody named Tabor has done a lot for Rallying in the Northwest, and there are a bunch of them.

Paul Eklund is another Portland guy with a family history in the sport.

Any car running as a “Regional” entry is likely somebody from not too far away. And bring your kids – even the girls will be excited to see that there are women involved in this sport. It’s super cool stuff. Check it out.